Fostering Prosocial Behaviors in Mexican and European American Adolescents Parenting and Gender Roles Considered

Abstract

Research demonstrates that parents influence the prosocial development of their children (Carlo & De Guzman, 2006). Parents engage in a number of practices that socialize and shape the pro-social and moral tendencies of their children. Particular styles of parenting have been the focus of prior scholarly research, namely responsive and demanding parenting (Maccoby & Martin, 1983). Furthermore, there is research suggesting that parenting styles might be associated with prosocial behaviors in different ways across distinct ethnic groups (Carlo & DeGuzman, 2006). Cultural values might mediate the relations between parenting styles and pro-social behaviors (Carlo & DeGuzman, 2006), and that parenting styles might be related to different forms of helping (Carlo et al., in press). The current study will examine the relationship between parenting and pro-social behaviors and the moderating effect of gender roles. Participants included 314 Mexican American and European American adolescents (206 Mexican Americans, 50% girls, mean age = 10.97 years).